IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,251,916
Granted Patent B2
US 12,251,916 · App. 18/470,941 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Methods for manufacturing panels

Inventor: Bruno Vermeulen (Aldeneik-Maaseik, BE)
Assignee: Unilin, BV
B32B37/02B32B27/14B32B27/20B32B27/304B32B27/40B32B37/10B32B37/24B32B38/06B44C3/005B44C5/0476E04F13/0871E04F15/02B32B2037/243B32B2264/107B32B2307/554B32B2307/584B32B2419/04B32B2471/00B32B2607/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,251,916
App. No.
18/470,941
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method is provided for manufacturing panels having a substrate and a decorative top layer that may include a printed motif and a transparent or translucent protective layer formed there above. The method may involve providing the substrate. A finishing layer may be applied for forming a portion of the protective layer. Recesses may be formed at a surface of the finishing layer. Forming the recesses may involve applying a surface structure-altering agent that is colored.

Claims (21)

1. A method for manufacturing panels having a substrate and a decorative top layer, the decorative top layer including a printed motif and a transparent or translucent protective layer formed there above, the method comprising:

providing the substrate including the printed motif;

applying a first finishing layer for forming a first portion of the protective layer;

forming recesses at a surface of the first finishing layer by applying a first surface structure-altering agent that is colored;

applying a second finishing layer on top of the first finishing layer for forming a second portion of the protective layer;

forming recesses at a surface of the second finishing layer by applying a second surface structure-altering agent that is colored.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and the second surface structure-altering agents are chemical agents.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of:

the chemical agents break open material of the first and the second finishing layers; and

the chemical agents repel the material of the first and the second finishing layers in that the chemical agents have a lower surface tension than the material of the first and the second finishing layer.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein material of the first and the second finishing layer is a UV-curing lacquer.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the surface structure-altering agents are lacquer-repelling agents.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the recesses in the first and the second finishing layers are formed corresponding to the printed motif.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second finishing layer is free from hard particles.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first finishing layer includes hard particles.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the second finishing layer includes hard particles.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein an average diameter of the hard particles in the second finishing layer is smaller than an average diameter of the hard particles in the first finishing layer.

11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the hard particles of the first finishing layer protrude above a surface of the first finishing layer.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the material of the first and the second finishing layers show a gloss degree different from each other.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the recesses in the second finishing layer are formed at respective locations of the recesses in the first finishing layer.

14. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising partially hardening the first finishing layer before providing the second finishing layer.

Assignments (2)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Mar 18, 2024
From: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
To: UNILIN BV
Reel/Frame 066805/0445 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2023
From: VERMEULEN, BRUNO
To: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
Reel/Frame 064972/0242 →
Priority Claims (1)
BE 2018/5001 · Jan 4, 2018 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16960047
Related Publication 20240009982A1 · Jan 11, 2024
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